IPPC FAQ's

LATEST IPPC RELATED NEWS-FEB/2013The USDA/APHIS issued a bulletin related to their accomplishments of international trade negotiations. Some interesting points offer insight into what the future of American exports may bring.Click here to view the bulletin

"What about this?" or "what about that?"

Nothing like a straight answer for a simple question, right? We hope our FAQ's accomplish that- if not please feel free to submit your question via E-mail (Click here) or call in at 877-400-7750.
You do not have to be a subscriber to the program nor be one of our clients, we'll answer the question(s) to the best of our and or another of the responsible parties abilities involved in the IPPC program.

QUESTION- "What needs the IPPC mark?

ANSWER: Any box, pallet, crate, skid or any other packaging made from solid wood that is going to be sent to another country (Mexico, yes- Canada will require in 2014 if planned implementation is completed).
In other words, if any solid piece of lumber is used to build your WPM (Wood Packaging Material) going into an IPPC Member country the IPPC mark (stamp, stencil, brand) would be required on the final product to be permitted entry.
Note:-the lumber used would have to be heat treated; more on that to come.

QUESTION- "Ok, what if our company doesn't put an IPPC mark on our WPM, what's the big deal, what will happen?"

ANSWER:Nothing- or a lot of things can happen. If your WPM is not intercepted or inspected by the receiving country and they permit it's entry without the IPPC mark, you did well! BUT, if the receiving country's Customs inspectors stop and inspect the WPM and see that it is from the US and there is no IPPC mark(s) they can:
1)- Reject entry and send it back to the US
2)- Hold the shipment for further investigation
3)- Fine those who are responsible for the shipment
4)- Require removal of the commodity from the WPM at port of entry and require destruction of the non-compliant WPM
5)- Require fumigation at port of entry
6)- Post your company's shipments on a list with their customs dept. to be on the lookout for future inspections
Ok- what is the likelihood of any of the above to occur? We cannot provide statistics- really, hundreds of thousands of worldwide in and out shipments per day-who can really know?
We use the analogy of auto insurance- what is the likelihood you, personally, getting into an accident today on your way home from work? Regardless, the prudent person has auto insurance 'just in case' (aside from it being mandatory by law in many states).
We can say, that ALL of the scenarios are based on actual phone calls we have received from those in the shipping/manufacturing sector.
Murphy's law- "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong"!
(Who is this guy Murphy anyway?- Click here to find out)